NYPA Transmission Project Chosen By New York State For Renewable Energy Supplies

Clean Path New York, an $11 billion clean energy infrastructure project, was recently selected by New York State to deliver more than 7.5 million megawatt-hours of renewable energy annually downstate and into New York City.

The Clean Path New York project was formed as a response to a request for proposals issued by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) aimed at increasing the penetration of renewable energy into New York City. The project is a partnership of the New York Power Authority (NYPA), Invenergy and energyRe.

The project combines a 1,300-megawatt, 174-mile underground high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line with over 3,400 megawatts of new wind and solar projects in upstate New York, with availability and reliability maximized by NYPA’s existing Blenheim-Gilboa pumped storage facility.

NYPA noted that Clean Path New York will develop a $270 million investment fund to support workforce development and education programs, health services and efficiency and electrification retrofits.

Routing and environmental work is underway on the Clean Path New York transmission line route from Delaware County, in New York’s Southern Tier economic development region, through the Mid-Hudson region to New York City. A majority of the transmission line will be built on existing rights-of-ways already used by roads and transmission lines.

“The robust and comprehensive state planning process ensures that the transmission line will follow the most optimal route, taking into account potential community impact and environmental stewardship. In particular, Clean Path New York’s route is designed specifically to minimize potential impacts to the Hudson River and avoid Haverstraw Bay,” NYPA said.

Additional information about the project is available here.

Second Transmission Project Also Chosen

New York authorities also selected the Champlain Hudson Power Express project (CHPE) to deliver hydropower into New York City.

The CHPE project involves the construction of an underground and underwater transmission line spanning approximately 339 miles between the Canada–U.S. border and New York City and is being developed by Transmission Developers, Inc.  and Hydro-Québec.

The projects were selected for contract negotiation as part of NYSERDA’s Tier 4 renewable energy solicitation issued in January 2021.

Once finalized, NYSERDA will submit the negotiated contracts for these awarded projects to New York’s Public Service Commission for consideration and approval.

If the Tier 4 contracts are approved, NYSERDA payments under this award will not commence for each respective project until the project has obtained all required permits and local approvals, is constructed and delivers power to New York City, which is expected to begin in 2025 for CHPE and 2027 for Clean Path New York.